– if cheap enough then you can factor in the cost of the known problems and not be unhappy if you have to pay out and if you don’t you’ve saved the money
– also depends if you want to sell on or drive to near worthless – tend to the latter so if you buy what other people hate its not going to be future problem to sell

as to the Alfa 159 its reputation for multiple and expensive faults seems very well deserved – wouldn’t shake a stick at one